Tournament

World Wrestling Federation
Prime Time Wrestling
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Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto / London Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada
15th-16th March 1987
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Lead announcers: Bobby Heenan & Gorilla Monsoon
Guest announcers: Jimmy Hart & Johnny Valiant

Line-up:
Dino Bravo vs Hillbilly Jim
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Ivan MacDonald vs Sivi Afi
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Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
The Can-Am Connection vs Demolition
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The Red Demon vs SD Jones
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Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
Kamala & Sika vs The Killer Bees
—
Johnny K-9 vs José Luis Rivera
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Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
Bob Orton & Don Muraco vs King Kong Bundy & Paul Orndorff

I’m visiting the WWF for the first time in the journey, and for the first time ever I get to see Prime Time Wrestling! Chuffed to see Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon opening things from their famed studio, which I assume is at Titan Towers. What’s that? Old school LJN WWF figures! Nostalgia much? I had the smaller André LJN because finding the Hasbro one was a nightmare, but I did eventually find the Hasbro one after scouring many a car boot sale. Anyway, the point of this episode of PTW? WRESTLEMANIA III IS ON THE HORIZON.

Much of this episode’s in-ring action is from the Maple Leaf Gardens, which hosted the Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament on the 15th. Maybe this was WWF’s answer to the Crockett Cup? Frank was the uncle of WWF President Jack Tunney who passed away in 1983. Check out the distinct camera angle used when WWF would hit MLG with the rarely seen rampway (for WWF that is). We’re also in London, Ontario for some matches.

Dino Bravo with Johnny Valiant vs Hillbilly Jim

The hillbilly hoss takes on Canadian strongman Dino Bravo, who is sporting black hair(!). Sadly we have Jimmy Hart joining Gorilla instead of ‘The Brain’ on commentary. Powerhouse match up here.


Hometown heel Bravo claims Jim is cheating, the crowd unsure of their allegiance. Johnny Valiant is clearly trying his best to get the crowd to hate on Bravo. Jim displays his fairly standard acrobatic skills which make him stand out in the era of useless giants. An interesting headscissors reversal from Jim in the corner impressed me! Oddly, Bravo’s wearing the Canadian flag on his arse, the maple leaf directly over his anus. A heel-ish message? Bravo takes control and throws Jim around, dropping a big leg drop for a two-count, somewhere Hogan is absolutely raging. Jim uses his power to retake control but Bravo goes to the eyes and accidentally crushes the referee who jumps in front of his hammer fist. A lame disqualification win for Jim. ■

Johnny V is rightly angered but the crowd loves it! Unclear what the disqualification is for, maybe for the eye attack before what looked like a genuinely accidental collision.

WrestleMania III promotion!

The hype train for WrestleMania III goes on here, with Hart, Heenan and Monsoon making allusions to the big one on the horizon. This studio feels quite claustrophobic and in a weird vacuum. I think we’ll get more hype for ‘Mania before the end of the show.

Ivan MacDonald vs Sivi Afi


We now have a Scottish lad called Ivan MacDonald, who I’ve never heard of, up against Samoan islander Sivi Afi who I’ve never seen wrestle. This one is from the London Gardens in Ontario. Sivi looks pretty jacked, like a Samoan Snuka, bare feet and everything. Ivan’s name sounds like a pun, “I’ve a McDonalds”, does this guy like McNuggets or something? Maybe he’ll turn Afi into a Happy Meal? Okay, I’ll stop.


Afi takes early control and Ivan diverts himself before landing on the commentary table. Phew! Some loose lock-ups and slow grappling, Afi wakes up the crowd a bit with a chop-fest which Monsoon thinks is “kung fu”. Bizarre…surely Gorilla’s seen a Bruce Lee film by this stage in life? Afi targets the left leg with submission holds, including a sore looking step-inside toe hold bridging into a pin, to an inverted scorpion deathlock! I was not expecting such complicated and uncommon moves, is this Afi’s thing? Ivan escapes via rope break. Afi works the leg and teases a nut shot for some reason. Headbutt to the abdomen instead. Ivan goes for the eyes but his offense is poor, he appears untrained and sloppy. Afi hoofs him in the ear when he tries to pin him with an extended arm press and gives a few kicks to the face and head. Lovely gutwrench suplex followed by a underwhelming running headbutt gets the pin for Afi. ■

Afi definitely impressed me and the crowd liked him! Ivan, go home pal.

Gorilla and ‘The Brain’ discuss WrestleMania III and Saturday Night’s Main Event, André addresses Hogan

Monsoon and Heenan casually chat about the “midget” match coming up at WrestleMania. Surprised that word is allowed on the Network.

Gene Okerlund lists the entire WrestleMania III card! I am so ready to revisit it.


Recap of the Saturday Night’s Main Event 20-man battle royale, which had an impressive roster of entrants: Hillbilly Jim, Ron Bass, Butch Reed, Haku, Demolition, Hercules Hernandez, Nikolai Volkoff, Sika, Paul Orndorff, The Honky Tonk Man, André the Giant, Billy Jack Haynes, The Killer Bees, Blackjack Mulligan, Koko B Ware, Tama and Lanny Poffo! Seems a bit heel-heavy, huh? Good thing Hulk Hogan is here to sort them all out! André as a heel has a kind of cool factor, he knows how to express himself as a bad guy.


But Hogan’s out! André grabs Hogan from behind, headbutts him and dumps the champion! André is later shown being dumped out by almost all the guys left in the ring.

André makes a basic statement that it only took one giant to take out Hogan, whereas it took a whole team to put André out.

Stars Bob Uecker and Mary Hart are up next, whoever they are. Uecker does a sort of parody promo in his grandpa jumper then appears to grope Mary…okay then.


Why not Alice Cooper or Aretha Franklin for this segment? Gene Okerlund is in total promo mode here, quite nostalgic. Heenan tries to defend André’s elimination, they “rolled” him out.

The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk) vs Demolition (Ax & Smash) with Johnny Valiant
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament


I’m a big Rick Martel fan so I always love seeing him wrestle. Loved Demolition too, so colour me excited here, full costumed Demolition, no less! Not much of a reaction for the Can-Ams in Canada. Johnny V is out again for Demolition, had no idea he managed them and for some reason he is wearing wrestling gear! Valiant almost gets Demolition disqualified before the match by refusing to leave the ring! Not seen that before, he was given a sort of reverse count out to get out. Demolition are slow to remove their spiked BDSM gimp masks.


Tom Zenk starts off with Smash who is covered in glitter. Rock and roll. Some blatant cheating by the good guys, as Martel jumps in to give double dropkicks, no tags. Referee lets it go for some reason. Martel in and injects some energy, working on the left arms of Demolition. Ax (Bill Eadie) looks in incredible shape, I’m kind of stunned. Some great teamwork by both teams with tags a-plenty. The match is suddenly interrupted by Heenan and Monsoon for a commercial…so this is when this nonsense started. I hate adverts during a match. Johnny V allows Demolition to build an advantage, Martel taking a lot of punishment. Zenk’s tag is missed and Martel continues to get thrown around. Martel’s quickness is his salvation and Zenk makes another tag to unleash some tag team synergy on Demolition! Zenk chases out Ax, but eats the ring post. Ax wins by beating the count, while Zenk has been counted out! ■ Zenk is slow to recover outside, probably wondering how a ten count was administered in what was possibly less than ten seconds.

Martel and Valiant have a showdown on the ramp, but Johnny thinks better of it and scurries away. Monsoon discusses the referee’s decision.

Randy Savage addresses Ricky Steamboat


‘The Brain’ loves using his telephone prop to call for segues.

‘Macho Man’ is interviewed by Okerlund, sporting a little cup to signify Ricky Steamboat’s “cup of coffee” in the “big time”. Sadly, it actually was. Steamboat was horribly underutilised in WWF but you probably already know that. This is peak Savage, before he was pseudo-cucked – intense but in control.

The Red Demon vs SD Jones

The Red Demon is José Luis Rivera, who was also one of the Conquistadors and otherwise known as enhancement guy Mac Rivera. I’m surprised this dude isn’t in the WWE Hall of Fame as a legendary jobber. This is also from the London Gardens.

He’s in control as we join the match in progress, sporting a jaguar pattern mask. King from Tekken would be proud. Demon is gesturing to the crowd, then chokes SD Jones with his wrist tape which the referee doesn’t seem to realise. Jones looks to have a stab scar on his back which I’ve never noticed before, yikes.

Demon digs around his trunks and appears to load his mask with something before he slides into a headbutt on the recovering SD. He hides the evidence again. Awkward bump and possible clash of heads as commentary absolutely bury SD Jones for being slightly off his game and a bit chonky. These guys are a sign of the changing eras for me. Demon’s gesturing gets him caught and SD takes control, but throws himself into the post! Demon distracts the ref for a choke but gets caught showboating again. SD slams and tries to unmask the Demon.


Looks like SD takes a blind back kick to his left knee and suddenly he is in trouble. Demon targets the knee consistently afterwards but SD starts boxing his way out. SD gets the upper hand with a punch to the gut, then flies up and over with a sunset flip! Hooks the arms perfectly for the winning pin! ■ A nice pinning combination out of nowhere for the win, injured but victorious. Makes me wonder why commentary were slagging off the winner at the start of the match.

Sweet relief for Gorilla Monsoon


Heenan’s phone stops working thankfully. These segments are quite funny if you’re a fan of Heenan and Gorilla’s pairing but I prefer the wrestling.

Kamala & Sika with Kim Chee vs The Killer Bees (B Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell)
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament


Now we have Kamala & Sika vs The Killer Bees! Thankfully the Bees have the masks off now. Call me a little boy, but I always loved the Killer Bee gimmick and attire, simple and fun.

The Ugandan-Samoan Connection have Sika starting. Jim Brunzell is the starting Bee. Nice tagging and teaming by the Bees on Sika, who makes the tag to Kamala, who gets a big crowd reaction. Brian Blair goes for a slam but barely budges the Ugandan Giant. The speed of the Bees is key, avoiding the big splash and getting a tag! A double body slam gets Kamala to the mat, Sika making the save. Kamala using a throat chop and the ropes, handing over to Sika.

I’m weirdly finding Johnny V quite funny on commentary, ripping into the Killer Bee outfits and comparing Kamala to a Lincoln. They really hype the Bees as the #3 team in the federation right now.


We are interrupted by a studio segment, with Monsoon laughing his ass off at Heenan breaking his phone with a pencil. That seemed important enough to interrupt the action I guess. It’s supposed to make the commercial breaks less jarring, but really just adds more fluff.

Sika with some basic strikes and goes to the eyes. B Brian Blair fails to fight out as Sika continues to choke and gouge, Kamala coming in to sidekick and choke-lift Blair! I wish we had seen James Harris turn face and use his personality more. Decent tagging from the ‘savage’ team, Blair struggling to escape the onslaught. Ref misses the Bees’ tag, but Kamala accidentally smashes into Sika. Lovely dropdown dropkick combination by the Bees to Sika and a quick pin! ■ Jimmy Hart says they weren’t the legal men, but they were in fact legal!


For reasons unknown, Kim Chee (Steve Lombardi?) raises his men’s hands in defeat.

Monsoon gets more relief from Heenan, The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis address The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana


Heenan now has a headset, but can’t hear Monsoon. Hilarity ensues.


The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis are with Gene. The Harts are in need of some promo practice, weirdly Davis carries this segment. They call Santana a “chihuahua” which is a fun idea. Davis says he’s been trained by Bret and Neidhart 8 hours a day minimum and will “slap ’em around”. Davis has an odd accent, he sounds English at times. Neidhart explains the titles aren’t coffee cans, and that they’ve been lending their expertise to Davis, then ends off with his big laugh.

Johnny K-9 vs José Luis Rivera


Infamous lunatic Johnny K-9 faces José Luis Rivera (yeah, Rivera gets two matches here). Quite a different look for Rivera. Only ever seen K-9 in Smoky Mountain so this should be fun. London Gardens again for Rivera’s double duty.


Rivera gets jumped before the bell and dumped to the floor. Johnny V replaces Jimmy Hart on commentary. Quick paced stuff, K-9 takes a powder. K-9 goes for hair, then clubbing forearms and knees from K-9 changes the flow, sending Rivera to the floor again. K-9 makes the “X” sign before Mike Chioda made it a dreaded visual, for unknown reasons. Monsoon thinks it’s a reference to the “1984” movie. I reckon K-9’s a time traveller and just loves CM Punk. K-9 runs into a big knee and Rivera gets the pin after a second-rope missile dropkick. ■


José Luis seems to be getting a bit of a push here, but sadly nothing I know of came of it. Had an imposing physique as well. I really wonder why.

Monsoon’s revenge

Monsoon takes the chance to slag Heenan while he wears the headset (and is deaf). He is later informed of the same.

Bob Orton & Don Muraco with Mr Fuji vs King Kong Bundy & Paul Orndorff
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament


Thankfully, we go back to the ring. This match-up feels very heel vs heel. The fans don’t want to cheer anyone, lots of boos and whistles. Monsoon, Jimmy Hart and Johnny V are commentating. Mr Fuji offers his comments during the match too.

Beef showdown as Muraco locks up with Orndorff but it’s the eyes again which are exploited. Orton is in, bouncing around like nobody’s business and the fans are excited when Bundy comes in to squish him. It’s strange to see Bundy and Orndorff slide into a good guy role.


Orton dives out to avoid the corner avalanche. Orndorff gets isolated. Bundy’s anger at Muraco and Orton’s repeated double-teams and chokes almost gets him disqualified, but Muraco brings it to the centre for a bearhug. Orndorff constantly reaches for the tag.


Bell clapper saves Orndorff to unleash Bundy, huge avalanche to Muraco in the corner! Orton pokes the eye of the big Bundy and tags himself in (illegally), knocking Bundy to the ground after a fierce elbow to the head. Bundy throws Orton into the air during a kick out and tags out, Orndorff hitting his atomic drop! Saved by Muraco! Mr Fuji slips the cane to Muraco! It’s a mess-up! Orndorff ducks and Orton gets cracked by the cane, right on the chin! Orndorff bundles out Muraco and gets the pin! ■

The strange teaming of Bundy and Orndorff gets a big win. I wonder if they used this to see how fans would react to a possible face run for Orndorff, or maybe even Bundy? I’d have dug that. They don’t hang around to lap up any applause or anything.

Heenan exposes his IQ

Heenan says “this is just a phone with earflaps”, he almost calls it a “piece of shit”! His headset allows Monsoon to make fun of him some more before hyping up Muraco and Fuji for the next show. I guess they have been doing some skits. Oh boy.

That’s all for this episode!

Highlights:
Randy Savage promo!
Heenan/Monsoon comedy dynamic.
Unusual tag team pairings that only a tournament can bring us.
A win for Rivera?!
Sivi Afi was surprisingly good.
WrestleMania III nostalgia.

Thoughts:
I had assumed this was going to be a strong show to lead into WrestleMania so I’m a bit worried going forward. At least I got to see a few new guys (Afi, K-9, Ivan, etc). The segments with Heenan and Monsoon are fun, but get a bit tedious. I appreciate this is an old TV format and it worked for the time.

Verdict: Decent in-ring action, but entirely skippable.

Available here on WWE Network.